I love, love, LOVE the first movie, and this one isn’t as good — it takes too long to get going, the set pieces at the beginning go on too long, some of the in-jokes have too much set-up for not much payoff, and the slapsticky centerpiece involving Julia Roberts isn’t nearly as funny as it thinks it is. But despite all of that, and the criminal underuse of Carl Reiner and Bernie Mac, it has nice moments; Zeta-Jones is good, Pitt is very charming, and Matt Damon is excellent. I’d hoped for better, but I’m not as downright disgusted as Lisa Schwarzbaum was — and while I’m on the subject, Lisa, seriously, take a pill. Just because you don’t adore a movie doesn’t mean you have to take it so personally. Anyway…it’s okay. It’s not great; it’s not an abomination. Maybe wait for DVD on this one. (12/13/04)

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